Authorities are investigating the death of a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier who collapsed while on his delivery route Monday afternoon amid dangerous, triple-digit temperatures.
The Little Elm Fire Department responded to a postal vehicle in the 1600 block of Thornhill Lane just after 2 p.m., according to officials. First responders found the postal worker, identified as 58-year-old Umeshkumar Thakkar, unresponsive inside the vehicle.
Emergency crews administered CPR, but Thakkar was pronounced dead at the scene.
An extreme heat warning was in effect at the time of the incident, with temperatures hovering around 100 degrees. While the official cause of death has not yet been determined, federal and local officials are working to establish whether the extreme heat played a role.
In a statement, the U.S. Postal Service expressed deep sadness over the loss and confirmed that counseling services are being provided to employees at the Little Elm Main Post Office as the investigation continues.
